Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
75. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the actions planned under Pillar 3 of the new Accelerating Infrastructure Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70481/25]
View answerLast week Government published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. This sets out 30 high-impact reforms targeted at the most significant barriers to the delivery of critical infrastructure. The actions contained in the report are grouped into four pillars.
Pillar 3 focuses on Co-ordination and Delivery Reform. Effective leadership and a whole-of-government focus on delivery is the cornerstone of the transformation required to build critical infrastructure in a timely way. It will shorten consenting timelines, reduce legal vulnerability, and create predictable pipelines that attract competition and innovation.
To achieve this, the Government is deploying a suite of actions designed to drive the system to improve governance, planning, funding, and programme integration, in order to give a proactive response to a complex challenge. The objective is to create a single, coordinated framework by combining statutory authority, predictable pipelines, and integrated planning to move from a fragmented, compliance-driven system to one focused on timely, cost-effective delivery of critical infrastructure.
The specific actions under Pillar 3 include:
• Targeting Investment at Priority Sectors through an NDP Review
• Publishing Sectoral Investment Plans to Provide Project Pipelines
• Enhancing the Infrastructure Coordination Function within DPER
• Introducing Risk Appetite Statements
• Improving Utility Coordination at National and Local Level
• Increasing Construction Sector Capacity and Productivity
• Accelerating Projects through Consenting Processes
• Providing Expert Assistance for Key Infrastructure Projects
• Reforming Procurement Processes
• Applying AI and Digital Tools to Support Infrastructure Rollout
Specific details on each of these actions, including timelines for implementation, and the responsible body is available in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan.
